Rounds, Repertoire, and Schedule

The Premio Bruno Mezzena for the Soloists’ category will consist of three rounds: an Eliminatory Round, a Semi-Final Round and the Final Round consisting of a piano concerto accompanied by second piano.

The Eliminatory Round

Participants must perform a programme of a maximum 40-minute duration comprised of:

• One study chosen from among those by: Alkan, Bartok, Unsuk Chin, Chopin, Debussy, Ives, Ligeti, Liszt, Messiaen, Rachmaninov, Schumann, Skrjabin, Stravinsky
• a sonata by Mozart or Beethoven
• a composition written in the 20th or 21st century

Depending on the number of applications received, one or more elimination rounds will be held. The order of performance for the elimination round will be determined by drawing lots based on the initial letter of the contestant's last name. Contestants must show up for the round with a valid identification document. During the elimination round, contestants must perform the programme specified above. The jury reserves the right to hear contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the programme presented. The jury will make a simple judgment of suitability or ineligibility. Contestants who have obtained a positive judgment of suitability will be admitted to the semifinal round. Admission to the semifinal round will be notified at the end of the day by e-mail to the address provided in the application or by a notice on the website https://mezzena.org.

The Semifinal Round

A maximum of 10 (ten) soloists will be selected to advance to the Semifinal Round, and must perform a freely chosen programme of a maximum 40-minute duration. 

The order of performance for the semifinal round will be determined by drawing lots based on the initial letter of the contestant's last name. Competitors should perform the program as indicated in Section 6 for the semi-final round.

The jury reserves the right to hear the contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the submitted program. The jury will make a simple judgment of suitability or ineligibility.

Admission to the final round will be announced at the end of the day by e-mail to the address provided in the application or by a notice on the website mezzena.org.

The Final Round (with Second Piano)

A maximum of 4 (four) soloists will be selected to advance to the Final Round. The order of performance for the final round will be determined by drawing lots based on the first letter of the competitor's surname. Competitors must submit their program for the final round, as indicated in paragraph 6. 

The jury reserves the right to hear the contestants in whole or in part and may interrupt the performance at its discretion or require them to perform again, in whole or in part, the presented program. 

The participants will perform a concerto freely chosen from among all concertos for piano and orchestra. The concerto will be performed with accompaniment on a second piano. An accompanist will be available, with whom it will be possible to rehearse on the morning of the final round.